Bad Sounds - Get Better (Album Review)

This album has personality and some excellent beats to help it stand out.

Bad Sounds have gained attention for being one of the best up and coming artists of the last couple of years and their popularity has grown since releasing a couple of EPs. Their sound is unique, hip-hop influenced indie-pop with cool beats and flares from the bright synthesizers.

One way to describe the album would be an eccentric, theatrical indie therapy session. The instrumentation is pretty major most of the way through the album and is great for easy listening which constrasts with the somewhat pretentious University-student brand of lyrics.

There are certain moments of actual deepness in the lyrics but most of the time it's fun over serious. For this band, there's nothing wrong with that. Take the single "Wages", something pretty paper-thin when it comes to real substance in the lyrics but quirky in its commentaries regardless. In some ways, I wish this was played up more on the album as it could really benefit some otherwise lacking songs.

When the synthesizers get wilder the album definitely sounds better but they're often restrained to simply complimenting the hip-hop influenced beats and groovy basslines. "Couldn't Give It Away" is definitely my favourite song here, getting the balance between quality and catchiness just right. The synthesizers buzz and swirl in fantastic flourishes and the bass on this song is exquisite whilst the lyrics are interesting, if a little meaningless.

Their choruses are ever sticky and their verses often have very interesting tones that build up to the pinnacles of each song; however I wouldn't say this makes the album formulaic, as each and every song has its own purpose and generally they all sound good and deliver a satisfying listen without just filling space for the sake of it.

Depsite the usual brightness of the album, Bad Sounds know how and when to get darker and more melancholy. A prime example of this would be the excellent "Thomas Is A Killer", a sad slice of mourning in the milky way...

I honestly think the song "Milk It", despite its grabbing and promising start, is one of the weakest moments here, with little to offer of worth. It seems to be slightly too uncoordinated and doesn't quite succeed in the same way the other songs do on the album.

"Evil Powers" is the complete opposite, with some of the best and most catchy instrumentals and best lyrics and chorus. This song is a definite, strong highlight that demonstrates just what this band is capable of.

Overall I find this album to be a fun and quite laidback listen that slightly lacks in some of the depth and meaning that a band like Superorganism achieve when doing a similar brand of indie-pop, and manage to make it even weirder and more instrumentally interesting. It's thoroughly enjoyable but not as rewarding as it could be. I have to give this a 7 out of 10. It may not be the best of the year but some of these songs are definitely worth the listen.

Best Songs:
Avalanche, Couldn't Give It Away, Banger, Evil Powers, Thomas Is A Killer

Worst Song/s:
Milk It